Sandhole Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 On 10/06/2021 at 16:48, LDM34046 said: Nothing much to show on the layout but instead of spending the day inside, I took a trip up to east anglia for day of spotting. It’s a nice change to see lots of freight as the south is pretty quiet. Just my luck that everything up north yesterday happened to be hauled by Class 66’s! Tempted with a trip to Eastleigh in a few weeks time, based on the variety of trains that passed through there. Don’t fret! Normal modelling content will resume tomorrow! Love me a good 'liner train. Examples of a load of model wagons. Good shots, Regards. Chris. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 13, 2021 Author Share Posted June 13, 2021 16 hours ago, Sandhole said: Love me a good 'liner train. Examples of a load of model wagons. Good shots, Regards. Chris. Thank you Chris! Nothing too extravagant but great to be shooting on the mainline in the sun! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 18, 2021 Author Share Posted June 18, 2021 (edited) The Peckett has finally arrived and is back on the layout. A big thank you to Kevin at Coastal DCC for fitting a new Zimo Decoder and a Stay-Alive Chip inside the body. The loco now runs like a dream and is super silky smooth to operate. I've not even cleaned the track this morning and it's already running without a hitch. The Peckett was notorious for constantly stopping due to it's short wheelbase but even the smallest of stay-alive chips have solved the problem. I've learnt my lesson in why it pays to buy a good decoder. The original Hornby decoder was replaced with a hardwired Zimo chip and the speed increments are much smoother and more realistic over anything I was able to get out of the Hornby chip. Here's to a rainy day inside operating! Edited April 2, 2022 by LDM34046 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 19, 2021 Author Share Posted June 19, 2021 (edited) The railway bug has bitten again after a quiet three weeks. A great day yesterday spent operating the layout. Edited April 2, 2022 by LDM34046 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 19, 2021 Author Share Posted June 19, 2021 (edited) A great delivery from the postman today! My long awaited boards from Tim Horn. Back in March, not long after I finished the basic scenic work I realised the biggest limitation for operating was the size of the fiddle yard. Fast forward three months and I’m excited to get these boards together for a bigger fiddle yard and a safer place to store my rolling stock. A job for a rainy Sunday! Edited April 2, 2022 by LDM34046 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 20, 2021 Author Share Posted June 20, 2021 (edited) A productive Sunday afternoon. The new fiddle yard has been assembled. Once again, a joy to build thanks to Tim Horn’s excellent work. Perfect fit with wood glue, screws and panel pins. Metal located dowels have also been fitted as per the instructions and bolted to the original board. Cork has also been laid with PVA glue so the track sits flush with the main board. Next job gluing a new length of track down and running the DCC droppers through. Edited April 2, 2022 by LDM34046 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 20, 2021 Author Share Posted June 20, 2021 (edited) All in a day's work! Droppers installed and the first test run complete. Plenty more room to run more realistic rakes of wagons. Much more interest in operating already. 5775 on the test run. Edited April 2, 2022 by LDM34046 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 21, 2021 Author Share Posted June 21, 2021 (edited) The Peckett absolutely dwarfed on the new fiddle yard! The latest addition to the stock roster. A Bachmann 1-plank wagon. Looks right at home in front of the Peckett. Perfect for shunting duties and carrying interesting loads. I think a tarpaulin covered tractor maybe on the list in the not too distant future! Edited April 2, 2022 by LDM34046 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 That first picture could have been a Colonial Peckett, spotted somewhere in North Africa. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 21, 2021 Author Share Posted June 21, 2021 17 minutes ago, MrWolf said: That first picture could have been a Colonial Peckett, spotted somewhere in North Africa. The lesser spotted Peckett on the vast Saharan plains 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 21, 2021 Author Share Posted June 21, 2021 Thought I'd upload a short video to showcase the smooth running of the Peckett. Hopefully, once I've got a bit more time, I'll put something together which is a bit longer and of slightly higher production value! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 Excellent footage, everything runs so smoothly. I hope that I can get my old bangers to run half as well. I went and shut the windows half way through the film, but I still couldn't hear a thing for the damn birds . Still, it's that time of year.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 21, 2021 Author Share Posted June 21, 2021 7 minutes ago, MrWolf said: Excellent footage, everything runs so smoothly. I hope that I can get my old bangers to run half as well. I went and shut the windows half way through the film, but I still couldn't hear a thing for the damn birds . Still, it's that time of year.... Thank you! I'm rather impressed with how everything is running at the moment. Only reason I added the countryside ambient noise is was because I muted the original audio. The noise of the motor and the points clicking detracted from the whole thing! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 Nothing wrong with that, out in the country their calls are more noticeable than anything at the moment. Here, we have a dawn chorus of Jackdaws and Herring Gulls starting around 4am. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 21, 2021 Author Share Posted June 21, 2021 (edited) Through the woodland...Cup of tea in hand, the driver of the Peckett pauses on shunting duties Edited April 2, 2022 by LDM34046 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 21, 2021 Author Share Posted June 21, 2021 (edited) Having dug out my weathering powders from the loft it’s time to sit down for a evening of weathering. Making a start of the two wagons needed most and then maybe a few more if I’ve got time. First attempt at this so I’m taking a recent article from Model Rail as reference. Edited April 2, 2022 by LDM34046 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 22, 2021 Author Share Posted June 22, 2021 (edited) Called into work first thing this morning so I didn't get a chance to photograph the finished weathered stock. So for the time being, here's a few before shots! Edited April 2, 2022 by LDM34046 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 22, 2021 Author Share Posted June 22, 2021 (edited) Managed to get some quick pictures this afternoon of the new weathered stock. Chuffed with finished result. A mix of brown and grey acrylic paints were used, mixed in with a little black weathering powder to thicken up the paint and add a slight matte texture to the paint. Applied thickly with a brush and the removed immediately with a cotton bud in a downward motion to create a streaky effect. I had a start last night on the two BR locos as I wasn't a fan of the glossy black finish. Managed to dull down the red on the buffer beams however although I'm happy with some areas of the loco I went a little overkill in other areas. I need to pop to the local model shop and pick up some acrylic thinners to remove a bit more of the weathering leaving it only in the edges and grooves. Overall I'm happy with the result. Very pleased with the wagons and with a few touch ups and tweaks on the locos I'll be happy with those too! Not bad for a first attempt. Edited April 2, 2022 by LDM34046 5 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 23, 2021 Author Share Posted June 23, 2021 Hmmmmm…..3-Links? I’ve been toying with the idea of how I can make my stock more realistic and 3-links seem to be the main route. I posted in a finescale Facebook group last night asking people’s advice and I appeared to have started a never ending debate! Do the looks and realism our weight the operating enjoyment? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 23, 2021 Author Share Posted June 23, 2021 (edited) Round two this afternoon of weathering. Finished work early and popped to the model shop and picked up some acrylic thinners. Again, more cotton swabbing and rectifying the heavy handedness of the first attempt. Overall I'm pleased, they look much better with the shine taken off them and a bit of texture added to the smooth surfaces. I still think that the Pannier tanks requires a bit more work. Some areas of the cab and boiler look a bit overkill however nothing was perfect in real life, especially on the mainline for these work horses. The next step is to add real coal to the bunkers and potentially some etched numbers for 5775. Some small details like a coal shovel or lanterns might not go a miss either. And finally I also gave the Land Rover a quick weather to add some grime into the hinges and around the front grilles. Looks much better! Who's ever seen a spotless Land Rover?? Edited April 2, 2022 by LDM34046 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Alister_G Posted June 23, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 23, 2021 27 minutes ago, LDM34046 said: Who's ever seen a spotless Land Rover Defender?? How very dare you sir! That is not a Defender. It's a Land Rover Series II. But I forgive you... Al. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 23, 2021 Author Share Posted June 23, 2021 14 minutes ago, Alister_G said: How very dare you sir! That is not a Defender. It's a Land Rover Series II. But I forgive you... Al. I work with Defenders all day so forgive me! Correct, Land Rover Series II I should know better! I have two on the layout! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 23, 2021 Author Share Posted June 23, 2021 (edited) The Peckett heads back to the yard after a day’s work. The local photographer managed to grab this quick picture before it set off up the line. ’elf and safety would have a heart attack! Edited April 2, 2022 by LDM34046 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NHY 581 Posted June 24, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 24, 2021 Some very nice stuff hereon, LD. Lovely little layout. Right up my street. Rob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted June 24, 2021 Author Share Posted June 24, 2021 6 hours ago, NHY 581 said: Some very nice stuff hereon, LD. Lovely little layout. Right up my street. Rob. Thank you Rob! I can’t lie, your layout was one of the inspiration that lead me to building this layout during lockdown! That and reading your 400 odd pages was a great pastime during lockdown! Luke Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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